Star Beacon
May 20, 2009 02:16 pm
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JEFFERSON — The school year is coming to an end here at Ashtabula County Joint Vocational School. Seniors are getting ready for the big day, while juniors are itching for summer vacation to begin. Teachers are wrapping up this year and preparing for the next.
The ACJVS marketing program is going through a major transformation. Up until now, it has been structured like other career-tech classes. Students would go to their classroom five days a week and then participate in a co-op program with an employer. Now, however, the marketing program is becoming a hybrid class.
“We will be a senior-only program that focuses on preparing high school seniors for the transition to higher education in business-related studies,” said Gerry Allen, marketing instructor. “This pilot program is designed to prepare students for careers in business and marketing, as well as transitioning to higher education with an emphasis on business.”
Unlike the former program, the new one will mix traditional classroom instruction with online instruction and actual business experience. Students will become familiar with a variety of managerial functions, from hiring staff to monitoring productivity to insuring profitability, among others.
This program is aimed at students that are high achievers and hope to attend college. Students will receive a laptop at the beginning of the year, and by the end of the year they will have earned college credits. Allen is working on articulation agreements for the transfer of marketing program credits into college credits.
Josh Asmus, a senior in culinary arts this year, plans to enroll in the marketing program next year. He wants to broaden his opportunities. “I want to learn how to gain and successfully run a restaurant through advertisement and management and this program will give me the opportunity,” said Asmus.
Another program at the ACJVS that is for seniors only and results in college credit is Teacher Academy. The program has credit agreements with 13 colleges and universities. Director and instructor Cynthia Walters says her students are busy completing their sixth and final classroom internship. Each student has also finished a capstone project, which is a portfolio “that reveals their understanding of the Praxis III criteria and that demonstrates their readiness to meet the demands of a career in teaching,” said Walters.
A recent open house at ACJVS last week allowed Teacher Academy students to show off their accomplishments this year. Walters’ students will also do one final project of their choice that will connect to their sixth intern experience. Approximately three-fourths of TA students go on to pursue teaching careers through colleges of education. This year is especially exciting for Walters because the first Teacher Academy class (2004-2005) is preparing to graduate from college.
Senior Kristie Organiscak is the reigning ACJVS student-of-the-month. The honor was bestowed upon her for her
terrific attitude during the recent SkillsUSA trip to Columbus, and for her everyday enthusiastic approach to life and school. She was nominated by Jon Whipple, ACJVS principal; Gilda McQuoid, instructional coordinator; and Mary Bettcher, health care technologies instructor.
“When I was presented with this award I was so surprised but also pleased that someone noticed the other things I try to do besides my regular schoolwork,” said Organiscak.
Student-of-the month nomination forms are sent out to all staff members, and those submitted are reviewed by a committee. Students have been nominated for a variety of reasons, from helping other students out in class without being asked to decorating the resource center.
“I feel the student-of-the-month program is another way to let students know that we notice the extra things they do to help others and that they are truly appreciated,” said McQuoid.
Soon our hallways will be a little quieter with seniors graduating on Friday. Best of luck to all of them for bright careers, and best wishes to all for a sunny, fun-filled summer.
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